Jess Williamson performs at the Austin Music Blogger Awards.
I’m not sure a week can go by without us writing about Punctum Records. The label continues to be Austin’s most active label despite their youth. With some insider knowledge of their upcoming release schedule, the summer will reveal even more material from the label. Today the imprint announced that it will release a new 7″ split featuring songs by Jess Williamson and RF Shannon, “Snake Song” and “How the Moon Knew the Night,” respectively. The split comes on the heels of new releases by each of these artists, both of which are among our favorite albums of the year thus far–Williamson’s Native State and RF Shannon’s Hunting Songs.
Artwork for the split by Matthew Genitempo.
It’s fitting that these two share vinyl real estate as RF Shannon served as Williamson’s backing band and tour mates on her most recent West Coast jaunt and the two share some sonic sensibilities with their penchant for haunting, contemporary folk music. The artwork for the album was created by Matthew Genitempo and perfectly accompanies the dark, mystical undertones of both songs. On the A-side, “Snake Song” rumbles like thunder before Williamson’s guitar notes slither out around a thumping bass. RF Shannon’s B-side track “How the Moon Knew the Night,” ambles along through a thicket of midnight forest, sprawling out over eight minutes. You can stream an early demo of the song below, although the final 7″ version has yet to be shared with the public.
This simple 7″ operates as a document that reflects the interconnectivity of Austin’s active music community–the connections and camaraderie between artists and those working to share their music with the public. Pre-order the 7″ here. For more on Jess Williamson, you can check out an in-depth interview with Williamson in the inaugural issue of True Sincerity, available for order here. Catch RF Shannon tomorrow at Stubb’s.
